Author Archives: Joseph Malekani

2 Kings 19b Commentary Check Isaiah’s prophecy against Sennacherib of Assyria. You easily get an idea of how the same prophet communicates in the book that bears his name. We know the context of this prophecy – both the spiritual and physical environment of the prophecy. By this time, the northern Israelite kingdom is gone.ContinueContinue reading “2 Kings 19b Commentary”

2 Kings 19 Commentary The danger from Assyria is clear and present. Hezekiah knows it. He doesn’t ignore it. He goes to the temple of the LORD. He has run to the strong tower. The prophet Isaiah is asked to intercede. Through a series of divine interventions, the LORD saves Jerusalem. And by the endContinueContinue reading “2 Kings 19 Commentary”

2 Kings 18b Commentary “…until I come and take you to a land like your own—a land of grain and new wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of olive trees and honey. Choose life and not death!” You would think these words come from the LORD God. No. These words come from theContinueContinue reading “2 Kings 18b Commentary”

2 Kings 18 Commentary We are introduced to King Hezekiah, son of the wicked king Ahaz. He kept the standards of his ancestor, David. “He got rid of the local fertility shrines, smashed the phallic stone monuments, and cut down the sex-and-religion Asherah groves. As a final stroke, he pulverized the ancient bronze serpent thatContinueContinue reading “2 Kings 18 Commentary”

2 Kings 17 Commentary “They followed worthless idols and themselves became worthless.” This is profound! People become what they worship. Idolatry devalues a human being to the point of worthlessness. While human beings may see value in themselves, according to the LORD, the unrepentant sinner remains worthless. The long-awaited scattering finally comes in this chapter. Worthless IsraelContinueContinue reading “2 Kings 17 Commentary”

2 Kings 16b Commentary The second section of Chapter 16 discusses Ahaz’s modifications to the temple of the LORD in Jerusalem. The narration is flat. Even the High Priest Uriah implements the king’s designs quietly. The LORD is terrifyingly quiet! Ahaz is a zero situation! A godly man turns to the LORD when in trouble.ContinueContinue reading “2 Kings 16b Commentary”

2 Kings 16 Commentary Child sacrifice, worship of demonic idols, and taboo sexual acts: because of these sins, the LORD had commanded Israel to drive out the Canaanite tribes. Ahaz, king of Judah, is, however, practicing these outrageous and abominable pagan worship acts. “Do not give any of your children to be sacrificed to Molek, for youContinueContinue reading “2 Kings 16 Commentary”

2 Kings 15 Commentary We have six kings in a period of fewer than thirty-two years. Four assassinations. Two of the assassins are themselves assassinated. A newly born baby will have seen all of this, and he will still be a youth! Zechariah, Shallum, Menahem, Pekahiah, Pekah, and Hoshea; that is the order of theirContinueContinue reading “2 Kings 15 Commentary”

2 Kings 14 Commentary Amaziah is comparatively a good king. We are, however, shocked by his childish war games with Jehoash, king of the sister kingdom of Judah. He is oblivious to the usual casualties of war and the subsequent suffering of individuals and communities. No doubt, this mindless war made many women widows andContinueContinue reading “2 Kings 14 Commentary”

2 Kings 13 Commentary Jehu, Jehoahaz, Jehoash, and Jeroboam the second; that is the order of their reigns from father to son. This period is marked by increased difficulties for God’s people. According to the scriptures, Israel’s idolatry, particularly the sin of Jeroboam, is the reason Israel finds herself in this position. It has beenContinueContinue reading “2 Kings 13 Commentary”